My favorites come from George's family so far; his kin seems to have the most colorful details -- the ones who lived right down here! My favorite name so far is Inez Dewdrop Otzelberger, a little tyke who only lived less than a month down here in Frog Hollow. My favorite story is actually quite morbid -- another Otzelberger - this time Charles Franklin. He is George's 3x great uncle (Dewdrop's brother). Here's the story of his death as told in the Herald Mail on Aug. 4, 1924:
Sunday Ends With Tragedy at a Resort
Charles Otzelberger, Holding Babe, Shot Down; Wilson Held
Tragedy marked the close of Sunday at Riverview Park, a dance resort near the settlement of Frog Hollow, about four miles from Sharpsburg, when Charles Otzelberger, aged 35, was shot and killed by James Wilson, the bullet being meant for John W. Zimmerman, it is said, with whom Wilson had trouble over a girl. Otzelberger was shot while holding his infant in his arms.
Otzelberger died a few hours later at the Washington County Hospital where surgeons attempted to remove the bullet, which passed through his abdomen. Wilson, who received a severe beating before he was subdued, was arrested and residents of that section brought him to Hagerstown. Warrants were swore out before Justice Bower charging Wilson with the shooting. A coroner's inquest will investigate the shooting at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon.
Zimmerman was talking to the girl in front of the dance hall and restaurant of E. W. Ewing when Wilson is said to have struck him a blow in the eye and, taking the girl by the arm, lead her into the restaurant.
Fired At Zimmerman
When the couple left the restaurant Zimmerman, who had waited outside, attacked Wilson and struck him a blow in the eye. Wilson is said to have whipped an automatic revolver from his pocket and fired at Zimmerman. The shot went wild and struck Otzelberger in the abdomen. His infant child fell from his arms. His wife, who was standing at his side at the time, fainted and had to be carried from the scene.
Wilson, according to witnesses, was about to discharge the weapon again when Zimmerman, his brother, C. S. Zimmerman, E. W. Ewing and Wilbur Ewing set upon him and succeeded in wrestling the weapon from his grasp.
Wilson suffered a severe beating at the hands of the men who placed him under arrest. It was necessary for him to have his injuries dressed and while this was being done at the office of Dr. W. B. Morrison, Wilson fainted. He was later taken to jail.
Wilson told Sheriff Duffey and officers working on the case that he didn't know why he shot, "was just jealous because he had the girl, I guess" he is said to have told officials at Police Headquarters.
Following the shooting Deputy Kaylor went to "Frog Hollow" to make an investigation of the affair. Evidence obtained by him is said to have substantiated the testimony of witnesses at Police Headquarters last night.
Authorities claim that Wilson was in possession of a quart bottle partly filled with moon-shine whiskey at the time of his arrest and of an automatic revolver of 38 calibre from which one shot is said to have been fired.
Besides his wife and child, Otzelberger is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Otzelberger and several brothers and sisters.
This is the third murder case in Washington County in the past thirty days.
The picture is of Mary Catherine Gift Otzelberger, Inez and Charles' mother. Looks like she's holding a stick . . .
